CLASSIC CHANNEL REGATTA
yachts overtaking the smaller ones during their second lap
were impressive under full sail and the beautiful Pazienza
(Laurent Giles, 1956) thundered past.
Yachts have to be pre-1975, or built to a design
predating 1975, and the race is run under the French
Jauge Classique Handicap (JCH) system. This allows
classic boats with very different characteristics to race
together with an equal chance of winning. Yachts with
modern underwater configurations pay a time penalty to
those with long keels.
My accommodation in the forepeak, vacated by Wendy
and Hugh, was a scrum to behold. Mikara comes from
Crinan, and our dress theme was Scottish. I therefore
shared the space with two kilts (for the Danse des
Classiques), Steve’s guitar, Wendy’s violin, Hugh’s
squeezebox, a dead animal on a sporran, tartan sashes,
other tartan paraphernalia, and my own baggage. The
only thing missing was a haggis. Mikara’s saloon table
drops down to form a double bunk to starboard in the
saloon, which accommodated Hugh and Wendy, this left
Sandy in intimate proximity on the adjacent port saloon
berth. Steve gallantly slept in the cockpit. I felt guilty, they
were so generous with their space.
The race to St Peter Port was routed via Torbay, leaving
the Ore Stone to starboard and then the smaller yachts in
Division 2 went straight to Les Hanois lighthouse and St
Martin’s point. This kept the fleet clear of the Casquettes
TSS, which was out of bounds. The bigger yachts in
Division 1 were given the extra distance of rounding
Roche Douvre before finishing off at St Peter Port.
Everyone had a wonderful beam reach across the Channel
and despite being heavily loaded Mikara astonished not
only her crew but also the committee by winning this leg
in her class. I misinterpreted the announcement at the
Guernsey Yacht Club and rather weakly cheered for what
I thought was the prize for the Longest Out at Sea. I really
must get my hearing tested. There was then a delicious
one-pot supper in the club.BASTILLE DAY
The regatta originally went to Perros-Guirec, and
subsequently to Saint-Malo before Bruce scoured the
Brittany coast looking for a host port. Paimpol proved
ideal and welcomed him with open arms, and so the
second half of the Channel race was onwards to Paimpol.
In the approaches we were issued with pennants
allocating us to groups according to size, and directed to
our anchorage. The organisation required to get 100
yachts berthed in the single hour of the lock’s evening free
flow was impressive and planned in minute detail. We
were given plans showing each yacht’s exact raft position,
the largest being on the inside, diminishing to the smallest
on the outside. It all went like clockwork and the French
should be congratulated on their precision planning. The
welcome we received was overwhelming; bands were
playing on the quayside and the wharves were lined with
spectators smiling and clapping. There were welcome
signs in English outside the shops and they sent us
delicious packed lunches for the picnic at anchor after the
Île de Bréhat race. The town was in a festive mood with
Bastille Day, 14 July, with the regatta being a central part
of the festivities. The harbour was made available free of
charge including the wonderful Salle des Fêtes which
accommodated 370 of us for the final supper.
Being the outside yacht of seven meant we had a
prompt departure to muster outside for the start of the